In just nine short days, we’ll know who the Chiefs have selected on Day 1. It’s time to hear from some of the Chiefs Wire staff about the players we’ve got a crush on during this draft season. These players could be surefire first rounders, guys with high upside, sleepers, or really any of a multitude of draft cliches.

Last year the Chiefs didn’t pick up any of our draft crushes, but perhaps this year will bring different results.

We all have draft crushes so be sure to share yours with us via Twitter or Facebook. Here are some of our 2019 NFL draft crushes:

BYU LB Sione Takitaki

My crush on Sione Takitaki has a lot to do with how I think he fits in the Chiefs’ defense. Above I have Takitaki listed at linebacker, but really he’s a positionless player in the NFL.

You can line him up at any OLB position in a 4-3, which is extremely valuable to the Chiefs. You can even have him operate as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt. He has experience and success doing all of those things at BYU, and he’ll carry a true jack-of-all-trades skill set to the NFL.

Takitaki actually reminds me a lot of a player and skill set that the Patriots have maximized recently in Dont’a Hightower. Someone who is always around the football, a threat in coverage, aggressive in run defense and comfortable rushing the passer from multiple positions.

During his five years at BYU, Takitaki endured highs and lows, including a dismissal from the football team. Ultimately, he earned his way back onto the team, and he ended his career on a high note as a team captain.

Adding a player like Takitaki can help the Chiefs offset the losses of pass rushers like Dee Ford, and Justin Houston while also adding a off-the-ball linebacker to the mix. He’s already on Brett Veach’s radar as he’s taken a pre-draft visit with the team.

Nebraska WR Stanley Morgan Jr.

Stanley Morgan Jr. may not have the name recognition of other Big 10 receivers in this draft class, but he’s every bit as good a prospect, if not better. Morgan Jr. finished the 2018 college football season with 535 yards on deep receptions, which was more than any other draft eligible Big 10 receiver. Keep in mind he did this all with a true freshman quarterback, albeit an impressive one.

Morgan Jr. isn’t a player who is going to beat you with blazing speed. The big thing that stands out to me about his game is his route running. Good technique and timing give him an advantage on almost every snap you’ll watch. His athleticism certainly helps with that, but you can tell he’s a student of the game.

Additionally, his concentration when the ball is in the air is quite impressive. He has the body control to adjust to the football, and the hands to make some awkward and highlight-worthy catches. It doesn’t matter if a defender is blanketing him with good coverage, he’ll manage to locate the ball and come down with it.

Maryland DL Byron Cowart

How many former No. 1 recruits can you get during Day 3 of the NFL draft? This season you can get at least one. Byron Cowart was once destined for greatness in college football, until he wasn’t.

Cowart signed with Auburn and had hoped that things would just fall into place. Needless to say they didn’t, and he ended up stumbling through three seasons of college football as a role player. It was naivety, and he eventually grew out of it when he transferred to Maryland. There he found much more success, but it still wasn’t the type of production that Cowart is capable of.

Positional versatility in a 4-3 will be interesting for Cowart in the NFL. He’s shown some incredible quickness for his 6-foot-3 size, but his 298 pound weight puts him as more of a fit along the defensive interior. He also played almost exclusively as a 3-4 defensive end at Maryland, lining up on the outside shoulder of guards.

He’s shown the necessary fluidity, change in direction, and movement skills to operate on twists and stunts. These will be featured quite frequently as part of Steve Spagnuolo’s pass rush plan. The problem is that he hasn’t shown consistent success getting after the quarterback.

Ultimately this is the type of player that a defensive line coach will want to work with at the next level. The tools are there for Brendan Daly to harness, and unleash upon the NFL. All he needs to do is pound the table to get him on the team.

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